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Dive Review of Brac Reef/Cayman Breakers in
Cayman Islands/Cayman Brac

Brac Reef/Cayman Breakers, Jun, 2003,

by Toren Smith, CA, United States . Report 764.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments I'd dived Cayman Brac many times, but always stayed in the resorts, usually the Divi Tiara. After some discussions with the locals on my last trip, this time I booked into a new condo development on the East End (farthest from the airport) called the Cayman Breakers, and set out to do some serious shore diving.
I did a few boat dives with Brac Reef, and those are rated above. Not exceptional, but I'd need to do more diving with them to have a firm opinion.
The Breakers were a real find. Yes, you'll need to rent a car to get out there, but that's not a problem and not expensive compared to some places. Being out on the far East End was nice and private, and the condos themselves are brand-new, immaculately clean, and of superb construction. Robert and Nina Banks built and operate the Breakers and are wonderful folks. Both have been diving for a dog's years and have been on the Brac for more than ten. Nina is a gold mine of info about local shore sites, and each unit has a list of locations to get you started. I liked the Breakers so much I have placed my name on the waiting list to purchase a unit! In the meantime, you can book a rental through [cayman-vacations.com link] and read all about the units there. They are VERY diver friendly. The "3" rating above for food is due to my own inadequate cooking. Aunt Sha's is just ten minutes down the road and has great seafood.
Despite the weather being very stormy while I was there, opportunities to shore dive were plentiful. In fact, if you have experience in surf entries, there is a reef and wall site right off the Breakers that I loved. It is rarely dived and the critters (including lots of turtles and a way-too-friendly nurse shark) seemed to regard me with astonishment. The reef is pristine as the site is not moored and Nina figures it's only dived a few times a year. This held true for all the shore dives I did here--pristine and untouched. You can borrow a "diver down" float from the Breakers.
Most of the moored dive sites, such as the Tibbets destroyer, are easily accessible from shore with a reasonable swim (even some of the walls) should you wish to "join the crowd."
I dived new sites every day the whole time I was there and barely scratched the surface of what is available. I'm coming back with a GPS unit and a notebook! A dive kayak would really open up some opportunities.
Note that the Breakers is on the windward side of the island (good points--no mosquitoes, and a nice cooling breeze) and so sites along the main road west from there are surf entries. While the surf is generally nothing to get excited about (at least to this Monterey diver!) the entries can be over jagged ironshore, which makes hardsole booties and great care necessary. Shore dives on the leeward side lack the surf but the ironshore still needs to be respected. Just in case, I wore a pair of gloves with kevlar palms for the shore entries and exits, and will probably bring a 1mm full-body suit next time. However, there are several sites with easy sand or pier entries. I really enjoyed the freedom shore diving gave me and I doubt I'll make any boat trips on my next visit...except to scoot over the Little Cayman.
Stay at the Breakers and shore dive your brains out--you won't regret it!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving California, Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy, cloudy Seas choppy, surge
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Time.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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